Compliance Officer at African Wildlife Foundation

Responsibilities

Compliance Tracking

• Ensure audit readiness for organizational, statutory, and grant audits.
• Review and test books and records to prepare for audits.
• Conduct desk and field reviews of financial transactions for accuracy and eligibility.
• Coordinate audit requests and responses.
• Maintain and update the monthly compliance tracker, ensuring accurate and up-to-date records of compliance activities, issues, and resolutions.
• Assist compliance manager by preparing concise compliance reports to be presented to senior management as required.
• Maintain an updated organizational and compliance calendar.

Financial and Regulatory Compliance

• Develop, implement, and maintain effective compliance programs, policies, and procedures to ensure adherence to applicable laws and regulations.
• Monitor and analyze regulatory developments, advise management on necessary actions, and update compliance programs accordingly.
• Review financial data, identifying and reporting transaction errors.
• Ensure tax compliance in all countries of AWF's registration.
• Perform compliance reviews of AWF and partner programs.
• Track and document quality assurance issues and feedback from audits and reviews.
• Participate in new awards kick-off meetings to reinforce compliance requirements.

Compliance and Tracking

• Ensure audit readiness for organizational, statutory, and grant audits.
• Review and test books and records to prepare for audits.
• Conduct desk and field reviews of financial transactions for accuracy and eligibility.
• Coordinate audit requests and responses.
• Maintain and update the monthly compliance tracker, ensuring accurate and up-to-date records of compliance activities, issues, and resolutions.
• Assist compliance manager by preparing concise compliance reports to be presented to senior management as required.

Follow-up on Audit Findings Implementation

• Assist in the implementation of audit findings from organizational, statutory, and grant audits.
• Develop and manage action plans in response to audit observations, ensuring timely implementation.
• Ensure timely and effective resolution of compliance violations.
• Monitor the progress of corrective measures to address audit findings.

Leadership and Collaboration

• Proactively report instances of non-compliance, fraud, waste, and abuse.
• Together with the compliance manager, provide periodic training to staff on internal control procedures and accounting tools.

Other Duties

• Proactively report instances of non-compliance, fraud, waste, and abuse.

Requirements and skills

• Minimum of 5 years in public accounting, including 2 years as an Auditor, with a mix of profit and nonprofit experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting, or related field.
• CPA accreditation highly preferred; additional certifications such as CISA, CFE, and CIA advantageous.
• Solid knowledge of accounting standards governing nonprofit accounting, financial reporting, procurement, and audit.
• Ability to organize and synthesize large amounts of data and communicate complex information effectively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong decision-making skills, self-starter mentality, and ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Familiarity with African development sphere regulations.
• Cultural sensitivity, teamwork skills, and proactive problem-solving abilities.
• As this position is heavily anchored in AWF’s conservation programs, the successful candidate must have a strong interest in and understanding of conservation.
• Knowledge of French is advantageous.